Fourteen people have been detained for plotting attacks on the Bahraini capital Manama, Bahrain's interior minister said on Saturday. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa told reporters that those arrested have been trained in weapons and explosives in Syria and were planning to attack commercial streets, the diplomatic district and night clubs in Manama on the Dec. 17 national holiday.
Two Bahrainis residing in London are believed to be the masterminds and cell's leaders, he added, according to the AP. The minister said that suspects traveled to Syria as tourists in July and August and then met with one of the two "masterminds."
"There they received intensive training on making explosives, bombs, how to use them and how to make car bombs," the minister told reporters.
"This plot is dangerous, not only because it is related to sabotage or aggression but because it is related to training and carrying out terrorist attacks," he said.
Police stormed houses of the 14 suspects, confiscated explosives, according to the minister who added that all of them have confessed and have given detailed account of their plans. Two of the 14 were arrested early on Dec. 18 and face the same charges.
